The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-05-18

How Discipline is Maintained in Cali
fornia Prison on Stomachical Basis.
To those who are unacquainted with
the methods of prison discipline, visit
to the branch prison at Folsom is full of
interest. To see the 900 prisoners at
work in and around those quarries, one
wonders by what means men who are
convicted of all crimes known to our
laws behave so exeellently and work
with degree of industry that would be
creditable to any walk of life. Six hun
bred men unmanacled, unclaimed; out
side of the prison walls, with nothing to
indicate that they were prisoners except
their striped felons' suits, working away
with will, performing an honest days
labor and apparently proud of the result
of their toll, is a sight to the
visitor totally unexpected. Men who
never in free state did an honest
days work-forgers, burglars, high
wayman, murderers-vie with each
other to see who can do the most,
and strive to and do accomplish as good
work as that turned out by free skilled
youth of sixteen to men bowed down by
three score years and ten--meD whose
sentences range from one to fifty-five
wears while n..lcrs have been sentenced
for life '' What is still m; more ffsmaFkaBIa,
the "lifetimers,' as they are called, are
said to be the most contented and best
workers, and those who in a free state are
lazy, indolent and averse to labor of any
kind are the most reliable and industri-
Gus. The secret of all this is the fact
that the quality and service of their
food and the limited privileges they
enjoy are dependent upon their be-
havior and the amount and quality of the
labor they perform. The eating depart
ment of the prison is divided into
three grades, and Is designated by the
prisoners as the s'bean table" "bull beer
and mutton chop The dining room for
the ''bean table" is fitted up with tables
consisting of single board about ten
inches wide, upon which, about every
three feet, Is securely nailed tin dish
containing pepper and salt. The beans
and other rough food are served on tin
plates, and knives and forks are not pro-
vided The food is wholesome, but IL
must be eaten in the most primitive style,
anu inc DTlBVn6Tk dEt nDb ttlOWtu W
speak to one another during meal time.
All new prisoners are placed at the "bean
table," and it is not until their excellent
conduct and industry commend them
to the management that they are pro-
noted to the "bull-beef table" Here the
fare is more varied, the prisoners are
seated at tables furnished with whole
some beef, vegetables, etc. This is quite a
step in advance of the "bean table" and
many prisoners never get beyond
1t. The "mutton-chop table" is the
height of the prisoners ambition. Here
he is seated at a regular dining-table
he has full complement of dishes
though all are of tin; he has a knife and
fork; the table is furnished with casters
he has mutton stew, stewed beef, meats
In variety, vegetables in season, and he Is
allowed to converse freely with his fel.
lows. II is distinction he is proud of
one that he has worked hard to obtain,
and one that he viii maintain no matter
how hard the struggle, The prisoners
are treated kindly; the "mutton chop
men are shown great consideration by the
officers, and from this class little or no
trouble is ever experienced, for an infrao-
ton of the rules sends them TO the "bean-
table" from which they find il difficult to
again obtain what they have lost.-sSacra-
nle,it0 Record Union.